Wellbeing governors - Governors for Schools

Our campaign ‘Wellbeing Governors’ ran from September 2020 to July 2021. The campaign aimed to showcase the importance of looking after the mental health of all those in the school community – and the impact a link governor for wellbeing could make.

Each term, we focused on the different people in the school community governors could impact. In term 1, we promoted pupil mental health and wellbeing, in term 2 we helped equip governors to support school staff wellbeing, and in term 3 we focused on physically active schools and the connection between physical and mental health.

Governors for Schools Wellbeing Report: One Year On September 2022

Ensuring wellbeing remains on the agenda continues to be essential for all school governors. One year on from the conclusion of our Wellbeing Governors campaign, our September 2022 report looks at the pressures school leaders are currently facing, and how boards can continue to support the wellbeing of those carrying out these roles.

Wellbeing Governor Stories

Our 2022 Wellbeing Governor Stories share insights from Chairs across the country on how they are supporting the wellbeing of their school leaders.

Governor Stories: Wellbeing One Year On — Vinny Wagjiani

Vinny’s story considers the importance of building strong relationships and the difference this has made to how his board is able to support the wellbeing of the school leadership team.

Resources for pupil wellbeing

Access resources, read blogs, and watch videos with experts to support your school’s mental health and wellbeing provision for pupils. These resources are intended for both link governors for wellbeing, and all those with an interest in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Resources for staff wellbeing

Access resources to help make sure your school is prioritising mental health and wellbeing in the most effective way. These resources focus on school staff’s mental health and wellbeing, and the effect this has had on schools and volunteers.

Resources for physical health and wellbeing

Access resources to explore the links between physical activity levels in schools and positive mental health, improved behaviour and engagement, and higher educational attainment.

Why Wellbeing Governors?

Read our report to find out why we dedicated a year-long campaign to wellbeing, what it achieved, and our plans to keep mental health and wellbeing provision on the agenda.

Wellbeing Governors: children’s and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is the first of three eLearning modules created as part of our Wellbeing Governors campaign. It looks at some of the most common mental health issues that children and young people experience and what school leaders and governors can do to promote wellbeing and improve mental health in schools. This eLearning is relevant to governors in all jurisdictions.

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What do wellbeing governors do - and who can become one?

Link governors for wellbeing keep mental health and wellbeing on the agenda at their school. It’s their role to support a whole school approach to mental health and to provide the link between the school and governing board.

Why do school boards need wellbeing governors?

Wellbeing governors have a varied role, but their main responsibilities include…

Making sure the school has appropriate mental health policies in place which are reviewed regularly
Acting as the link between the governing board and staff members, updating the board on how mental health and wellbeing support for staff and pupils is implemented
Making sure that the school’s strategic plan includes improving, supporting, and responding to pupils’ and staff’s mental health

Apply to become a governor